Senior nationalist makes public call for resignation of Swinney

The leadership crisis facing John Swinney deepened when a member of the Scottish National Party's ruling National Executive became the first leading party figure to publicly call for his resignation.

Gil Paterson, a former MSP and the SNP's fund-raising vice convener, gave a warning that the next general election would be a major disaster for the party if Mr Swinney stayed at the helm.

Mr Paterson became the first SNP office bearer to demand the resignation of Mr Swinney following the party's poor showing at the European elections.

In an interview for STV and Grampian TV's Politics Now programme, Mr Paterson, a former list MSP for Central Scotland, said: "In the interests of the SNP, in the interests of independence and in the interests of Scotland, John Swinney should move aside. Simply, if he stays we are heading for a major disaster at the next election."

He claimed his views were shared "across the board" adding: "The Conservatives are chapping at the door right at the minute and I think that if John Swinney doesn't move aside and change tack, quite frankly I think they'll overtake us."

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"After every election there has been a downturn in morale but this is as low as I have seen it. I think that it will cost us party members and it will cost us votes if John doesn't move aside.

"Quite frankly, I would like some of John's friends to tap him on the shoulder and say 'John'. Maybe not in public like the way I'm doing but maybe in private because the same thing is being said all over the party that John should move aside."

Mr Paterson suggested that few in the SNP would be "unhappy" if Alex Salmond returned as leader.

A number of leading SNP figures have been criticising Mr Swinney in private since Monday's election result, but Mr Paterson is the first to break ranks and openly call for his resignation.

Mr Paterson is seen as a member of the SNP's fundamentalist wing, which has criticised Mr Swinney for failing to push the independence message hard enough.

He is also an ally of Alex Neil, the fundamentalist MSP, who challenged Mr Swinney for the leadership of the party when Alex Salmond departed for Westminster.

Mr Paterson's remarks provided more evidence of the difficulties facing the party following its slump in support to below 20 per cent of the vote, compared with the 27 per cent in the Euro election five years ago.

The Conservatives came within two per cent of winning more votes than the SNP, the official opposition. Despite this, Mr Swinney has insisted he will lead the SNP up to the 2007 election.

At a meeting of his MSPs this week, Mr Swinney blamed a post-devolution despondency for the nationalists' failure to threaten Labour's lead in Scotland.

Mr Swinney's spokesman said: "Gil Paterson's views are well-known within and outwith the party. His comments are little surprise. What will surprise members is that instead of working to further the political cause of the SNP he has chosen to promote division through the media."